WASHINGTON — Atlanta United has earned seven points from its past three games with goals in stoppage time. The most recent came in Saturday’s 1-0 victory against D.C. United, clinched with a goal by Marcelino Moreno in the 94th minute.
Whether it is karma or probability blessing the team, the outcomes are much different than last year when the team lost 13 points when it was winning or tied after the 75th minute.
“... Maybe in years past we didn't have those areas where we'd be able to roll our sleeves up and join a dogfight and come out on top. And (Saturday night) we did that."
Captain Brad Guzan said the team believed in itself last year but the positive results didn’t happen. This season, that belief is being supplemented by a desire to keep working and keep fighting.
“... Maybe in years past we didn’t have those areas where we’d be able to roll our sleeves up and join a dogfight and come out on top,” he said. “And (Saturday night) we did that.”
Those six points – three earned with a goal in the 96th minute against Charlotte, one earned with a goal in the 92nd minute against Montreal and then Saturday’s goal by Moreno from a Brooks Lennon corner kick – moved the team to third in the East with a good chance to stay near the top in the coming weeks. It trails first-place Philadelphia by three points. It has games upcoming at Charlotte, at home against Cincinnati, at Inter Miami and at Montreal, which are among the worst teams in the East based upon points.
Manager Gonzalo Pineda and Guzan said Saturday’s result was important, and a testament to the team’s character, because two players, Matheus Rossetto and Ozzie Alonso, had to leave with injuries. Josef Martinez was subbed off midway through the second half because Pineda felt he had given all he could after spending the past week with Venezuela for its World Cup qualifying games. Andrew Gutman, who successfully minimized the effectiveness of Julian Gressel, was noticeably dealing with different injuries. Thiago Almada was making his first start. Moreno went 90 minutes for the first time this season.
The ingredients were there for the team to fall back into 2021 mode.
The team overcame that because of its focus in training, according to Moreno, and the depth of its bench, according to Pineda.
“I think it says a lot about a team that doesn’t give up that last year, I remember we gave up a lot of points at the end of the games,” Pineda said. “And now we’re doing completely the opposite. And that, for me, is a massive achievement. Because it’s not, it’s not something that comes on its own. It’s something that is watched by the players by training very hard until the end of the training session.
“They have to be there with concentration and fighting and competing. And I think sometimes these things happen, like we are scoring these type of goals at the end of the game and it makes me happy because, I mean, those are nice points to achieve at the end of the game.”
For more content about Atlanta United
Follow me on Twitter @DougRobersonAJC
On Facebook at Atlanta United News Now
On Instagram at DouglasDavidRoberson
Atlanta United coverage on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Southern Fried Soccer podcast can be found
Apple - https://apple.co/3ISD6Ve
Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3L8TN0C
Google podcasts - https://bit.ly/32KlZW3
If you are listening to us for the first time, please follow us on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcast ... and if you like what you hear, please give us a good rating so we can grow the show.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has a special offer for Atlanta United supporters and listeners to this podcast. If you subscribe today you will not only get unlimited digital access to the AJC and the Sunday paper for $2.30 a week but we are also throwing in a special limited-edition Atlanta United and Atlanta Journal-Constitution scarf. Sign up now at subscribe.ajc.com/utdscarf.
Atlanta United’s 2022 MLS schedule
Feb. 27 Atlanta United 3, Sporting KC 1
March 5 Colorado 3, Atlanta United 0
March 13 Atlanta United 2, Charlotte 1
March 19 Atlanta United 3, Montreal 3
April 2 Atlanta United 1, D.C. United 0
April 10 at Charlotte, 1:30 p.m., ABC, ESPN Deportes
April 16 vs. Cincinnati, 6 p.m., Peachtree TV
April 24 at Miami, 1 p.m., ESPN
April 30 at Montreal, 4 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
May 7 vs. Chicago, 6 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
May 15 vs. New England, 2 p.m., ESPN
May 21 at Nashville, 7:30 p.m. FOX
May 28 vs. Columbus Crew, 7 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
June 19 vs. Miami, 4 p.m., ESPN2
June 25 at Toronto, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
June 30 at New York Red Bulls, 8 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
July 3 at NYCFC, 5 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
July 9 vs. Austin, 7 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
July 13 vs. Real Salt Lake, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
July 17 vs. Orlando, 3 p.m., ABC
July 24 at L.A. Galaxy, 9:30 p.m., FS1
July 30 at Chicago, 5 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Aug. 6 vs. Seattle, 3 p.m., ABC
Aug. 13 at Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m. BSSO/BSSE
Aug. 17 vs. New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Aug. 21 at Columbus, 6 p.m., FS1
Aug. 28 vs. D.C. United, 4 p.m., UNIV
Aug. 31 at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 4 at Portland, 5:30 p.m., FOX
Sept. 10 vs. Toronto, 7:30 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Sept. 14 at Orlando, 6 p.m., BSSO/BSSE
Sept. 17 vs. Philadelphia, 3:30 p.m., UniMas
Oct. 1 at New England, 1 p.m., UniMas
Oct. 9 vs. NYCFC, TBD, BSSO/BSSE
About the Author
